Where to get used LS engines?

[Orphan]

Hey guys,

Pretty new to LS engines and just wondering if anyone can suggest some good places to look for used LS1 or LS2 engines complete with ECU etc would like the trans with it but not necessary. I'm in Canberra by the way.

Looking to start my project car in June/July and wanted to get stuff priced up. Its just an LS1/2 into Series 2 RX7 (FC) swap. This will be my first engine transplant. Not 100% if I'm going to fab up my own mounts etc or just order them from the u.s. as they have 2-3 mainstream places that sell kits to swap the LS in.

Friend of mine is a mechanic and is letting me store the car out back of his shop until its done. He put a v8 into a silvia not long ago and it goes pretty good for a 4L - he only spent $3500 on the car in total and it ran a 12.4 on the standard 180mm street tires it had on when he got the car as well as the standard diff which is a horrible little unit haha, just has a 4 speed toyota auto box with shifter. Obviously a fair bit of time went into it but the DOHC sits well in the silvia with decent clearance for the headers + v8 @8000rpm with full exhaust sounds awesome :D. Engine is rated for 190kw at the fly from factory and its stock besides the dual 2.5" exhausts and rev limiter being raised a bit.

Car is just a project/track car, not sure if I will get it road legal etc or just cart it on a trailer its more just to do it and have some fun. If it goes to the track i'll get the guards rolled out 20mm and put some used 285 Porsche slicks on it :P haha should be a lot of fun.

What do you need to tune the standard ECU? I've had a little experience with an Adaptronic ECU which is a pretty decent little unit for the price but no experience working on OEM computers. The Adaptronic is as easy as just hooking your computer up to it and loading the new map on it.

End result should be a RWD LS powered sports car weighing less than 1400kg loaded with me and half a tank of fuel as my mate got his weighed with the standard rotary engine in it and came in at 1360kg and he is a little fatter than me haha :P

Thanks guys.

[HSVREDSLED]

Sounds like a great project. Not sure about sourcing LS motors. Occasionally they come up in here on the classified sections. I have also seen them on Ebay!!!

Heres one for ya...

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/VZ-HSV-297KW-LS2-CRATE-MOTOR-BRAND-NEW-WARRANTY_W0QQitemZ330215649751QQihZ014QQcategoryZ6 763QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem


As for tuning, contact Oztrack or check his section on here. He is a distributor for tuning gear.

[KeenGolfer]

You can buy new crate L76's for around $4500 from Holmart, that's what I'd be doing.

[Orphan]

Cool thanks. Is there anyone around aus that has done this swap before? I remember on the V8RX7 forums someone was planning on doing one in Australia.

Yeah considering thats a new engine $4500 is very cheap haha, compared to euro and jap engines of similar power. Can get the new 5L Lexus V8 for $22,000 as a crate engine :s haha. I have to say I'm not overly keen on spending $4500 on a new motor if I can get a used LS for significantly cheaper with the gear box. They are suppose to be a pretty strong engine right? I don't mind second hand as this is only a little cheapy project car - long as the engine is running well/has minimal wear I'll be happy as the rollers I've sourced so far are only $1000-3800.

New LS2 for $4000 seems ok but what am I looking for the the wire harness and ecu and will any LS power steering and AC bolt onto it?

EDIT: the L76 is the one thats got an LS2 bottom end and Displacement on Demand right? That said i'm not sure how keen I am on an iron crank and lower rev limit etc. Any tech info on these engines you could give me? From what i've heard a head polish (port not even really needed) with a better cam and tune = more power than the LS2 with a tune. DoD would be pretty cool to have to see if it made any difference in fuel consumption. That said it should be too bad in a 1300kg car driving with a bit of care haha - but then again who puts a 5.7-6L v8 into an RX7 to putter around haha.

[Gee]

There's been a number of discussions in the LS Series Powertrain forum that cover the issues of interoperability, have a bit of a search in that section only - including "reluctor wheel" in the keywords.

[QNLOOK]

If your interested I will be pulling my engine out in about a month to make way for a forged engine so it will be up for grabs. Will come with running bottom end and heads with 918 USA comp springs but no manifold/rails and will come with only some accesories such as oil /water pump and maybe alternator. its done 120K kms with no problems.

[Orphan]

Sure QNLOOK let me know what price your looking at once your ready to sell. What about harness and ECU? I'm guessing your keeping them as its just swapping in a built LS1?

[VL87_GPA]

look in your local paper, ls engines are everywhere thesedays and go failly cheap, also mabye try the reckers

[QNLOOK]

I will be keeping my comp and loom, however there is 1 loom and comp on ebay for about 250 at the moment, also I have an LS2 comp and loom which I think may be compatible but not 100% sure so best to check, i think you may need to lengthen some wires. Was expecting to get $1500 for motor only, if you want the LS2 comp and loom prob an extra 500. Let me know what you plan to do anyhow.